New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-14

| Whnt nD!" thought Mlnn3. Il donC d.
lIeve she knows Rule Britannia from the Dead
March in Saul'n But she made no audible remark,
end the three arranged to meet later at Mrs.
Eatons
Clementna had charming little house in Park
Street, and she prided herself greatly on the ar
tistic arrangement OF her rooms. Her establish
nIent was small but the servants were admirably
drilled and kept up to the marx by young lady
a cousin-who acted as n sort of satellite or hum
bic companion to the fair widow. Indeed, much
of the credit Mrs. Somers received for perfect
taste, both in personal and household adornment.
| should have been placed TO this young lady's ac-
count.
| On returning from her matutinal airing in
| the Row, Clcmentina was not in the best OF tenn
| pers, and Mary Grey had rather bad time of it.
| Everything was wrong; the outlets at luncheon
were pronounced UNBEATABLE, the claret cor<ed, the
flowers faded and the lap-dog's condition any
| thing but what it should he.
Fortunately Mary had the command OF temper
proper to dependent and a poor relation; she
listened to all the complaints in silence ana with
eyes mcel<ly downcast,and afterward went through
her customary duty of dressing her patronesS,ior
Mrs. SOmcrs kept maid; Mary was more skill
| full and so much cheaper than the ordinary run
! of Abigails; without evincing scintila or the
| wrath that smouldering in her bosom.
| But when the lady had departed arrayed in full
war-pant and feathers, as the lrrevercnt Miss
Grey put it, the humble companion performed a
sort of pas d'cXtase round the room looked at her
self in the gassshe was very pretty, for her grey
eyes wonderfully bright and expressive and
and her complexion was simply periect-shook her
fist at the lapdOg, sang % snatch of popular
French chansonctte, and finally subsidized into the
most comfortable easy-chair in the room and drew
from her pocket letter, which she read more than
once
All, my dear cousin Clementina,' she said
aloud, smiling maliciOusly, she carefully re-
folded the letter and put it back into her pocket:
you are very well in your way, tolerably good
looking, when grande tenuc but not clever.
There's great deal more on your head than III It,
Why you not even clever enough to"
Here she paused, and a queer smile nuttered
over her rosy lips.
We'll, we'll. but I confess should like 10 bal
ance the social scales more justly" she unused
thoughtfuly, tracing out the pattern Of the carpet
with her pretty foot. 81 do think it hard that
Mcsdames Somers. Desmond and Co. should have
ell the pleasure and all the trouble and worry
Why shouldn't have my amusements too? or
course, can always have the fun of laughing AT
my dear cousins weaknesses behind her back, but
have TO do it so often that it pals. l really
must strike out something new Let me think"
For some minutes the young lady sank into
brown study, puckering her white forehead into
a thoughtful frOwn and drawing quite a network
Of designs on the carpet with the point of her
shoe. AT last brilliant idea darted into her
brain. and she started to her feet with cry.
Eureka! That will do. Nothing could be bet
ter All what fun III have! My dear Clcmcn-
tina. shall be able to cry quits with you at last.
You have made me pass many n rad quarter OF an
hour, IN return for which shall play you pretty
| a trick as ever womans wit hatchcd!' And she
burst into peal of such merry, silyct-toDcd
laughter that the lap-dog reused himself from
his afternoon sicsta and barked JOYOUS response.
During the next few days Miss Grey's manner
was as demure ever while in the presence Of
her patroness, but when evening came and Mrs.
Somers bctool herself 10 ball, reception theatre
as the case might be, the young lady gave vent
to her native high spirits by mimiclSing her
cousin before the long mirror in Clcmentinas
dressing ROOM Waiting with the lap-dog. who
loudly resented the liberty, singing sprightly
chansOnettes in her fresh, clear tones. Mary had
been educated in irst-rate Partisan school, and
had contrivcd 10 imbbe good deal Of French es-
prit along with more solid accomplishments. But
oftener she fell to needlework with praiseworthy
ardour ard when thus employed her spirits
higher than ever. She would oten laugh aloud
from sheer inability to keep her mirth herself,
as she pictured and repictured in her busy brain
what Clementina would say and how Clementina
would look when her humble companions brilliant
idea was fully matured and carried out.
The rivalry of the two widows did not abatc as
the days went on. Fitz seldom 10 be seen
without other by his side. Bets were freely
laid the event at the clubs. the odds varying
blonde or brunette was in the ascendant. Glenn
entina battered herself that she would be in first
fdent thet to her would fall the honor of carrying
off the Brandon Sweepstakes
Little FitZ could but feel iattered by the open
admiration Of these two charming ladies. When
chafed about it at his club, lac only laughed and
strolIed Lis mustachc complacently, for he OK
tremely COOd-tempered and even the scowls OF
Maitland aud Carnforth did not ruflle him. But
he had evidently not made up his mind which of
the Indies was 20 be Mrs. Fitzgerald Brandon.
He lunchcd one day with Clemcntina, but dined
with Mnna the next; he sat the whole evening in
the operab OF one, but he certain TO be seen
in the Row next morning with the other and 50 the
balance OF power was maintained.
Both ladies at their wits end. How was
this OscilV ting swain To be secured? 1t was In
tOlerable to him flirting openly with Nlinna
after he had all but proposed the day before TO
Clementna and vice versa. or course every one |
amused but the two Victims and they were |
really miserable. However, event TO which both |
had long looked forward would they hoped, bring |
matters to crisis. Lady Mabel Smith going |
TO give bal lnasque at her charming suburban |
villa on the Thames, and the widows had devised |
Iavishing toilets for the occasion. Little Fitz would
surely be SuDJugated at last; and there would DC |
many opportunities for him 10 propose In those
delightful gardens soping TO the river, and lit |
with colorcd lamps la South Kcnsngton.
The cventful evening came at last. Mrs. Des- |
mond, arrayed as Madame dc Pompadour, in rose
coored velvet and diamonds, and Mrs Somers, US
Marie AntOinette, in pale blue satin and pearls |
arrived almost simultaneously at Lady Mabcl's. |
Little Fitz, 10 whom both ladies had, of course
confdCd the secret Of her incognitO, had got HIM
self up very magnifcently as Louis XIV. and this
Mrs. Desmond considered as almost tantamOunt 10 |
a declaration.
The ball was most brilliant affair the weather
was everything it should be, warm, still and moon
less; the Examinations were gorgeous, the music |
good, the dresses admirable, and the wine super |
latve. Lady Mabel's guests took their pleasure |
with less Of insuar sadness and more of continen-
tai hvelincss than usual Whether it |
was the novelty and daring Of the |
thing, or the tact of the hostess, or
the unlimited opportunities for Irritation, the |
spice OF intrigue and mystilcation introduced into